Mesoplophora ( Mesoplophora ) heterotricha, Liu, 2016

Liu, Dong, 2016, Mesoplophoroidea (Acari, Oribatida) of China, Zootaxa 4084 (4), pp. 519-539 : 525-526

Mesoplophora ( Mesoplophora) heterotricha sp. nov.

( Figs 3A–C )

Diagnosis. Surface of body punctate; lateral carinae of prodorsum absent; sensilli, lamellar and interlamellar setae long, thick and smooth; rostral setae thin; exobothridial setae minute, shorter than diameter of bothridia; in–in>ro– ro; “notogastral” setae similar in shape as interlamellar setae, except setae c 3 thin; Setae h of mentum shorter than distance between them; formula of genital setae 6: 1; eight pairs of ventral setae unequal in length; “ano-adanal” plates with two pairs of smooth setae.

Description. Measurements. Holotype: Prodorsum: length 195, width 135, height 82, setae: ss 108, ro 40, le 65, in 80, ex 4; mutual distance: in–in 85, le–le 126, ro–ro 75; “notogaster”: length 302, width 260, height 252; setae: c 1 88, c 2 82, c 3 50, c p 72, d 1 90, d 2 90, e 1 80, e 2 70; ventral region: an 1 20, an 2 20; genito-aggenital plate 65×35, “ano-adanal” plate 70×30. Paratypes (n=3): Prodorsum: length 200–205, width 135–142, height 85–88; “notogaster”: length 310–320, width 255–265, height 250–255.

Integument. Colour yellowish. Surface of body punctate.

Prodorsum ( Figs 3 A –B ). Lateral carinae absent; sensilli ( ss) long, thick, smooth and pointed distally; interlamellar and lamellar setae ( in and le) long, thick and smooth; rostral setae ( ro) thin and smooth; exobothridial setae ( ex) minute, shorter than diameter of bothridia; comparative length: ss>in>le>ro>ex; mutual distance of setae: le–le > in–in>ro–ro.

“Notogaster” ( Fig. 3 A ). 8 pairs “notogastral” setae present, all long ( c 1/ c 1– d 1≈0.9), thick and smooth, except setae c 3 shorter and much thinner; setae c 1– c 3 form almost equally spaced row.

Ventral region ( Figs 3 A, C ). Setae h of mentum shorter than distance between them. Seven pairs of genital setae ( g) with formula: 6: 1; ventral plate with eight pairs of setae unequal in length; “ano-adanal” plates with two pairs of smooth setae.

Legs. Chaetotaxy of legs complete; setal counts for leg segments: I: 0-3-3(2)-4(1)-15(3); II: 0-4-2(1)-2(1)- 13(2), III: 2-3-2(1)-2(1)-10, IV: 2-3-2-2-8; tarsi monodactylous.

Material examined. Holotype: adult ( NIGA, in alcohol), CHINA, Hainan Province, Lingshui , from litter under Alsophila sp., 15 May 2013, leg. Yuting Huang . Paratypes: 1 adult ( NIGA, in alcohol), same data as holotype ; 2 adults ( NIGA, in alcohol), from moss in the tree hole, other data same as holotype.

Type deposition. Type specimens are deposited in NIGA.

Etymology. The new specific name “ heterotricha ” refers to the different shapes of prodorsal and “notogastral” setae.

Remarks. This new species is close to Mesoplophora ( M.) frogneri Niedbała, 2004 from Sarawak, Malaysia in having similar shape of sensilli, most prodorsal and “notogastral” setae; exobothridial setae shorter than diameter of bothridia; lamellar setae situated closer to interlamellar setae; in–in>ro–ro; eight pairs of ventral setae present; aggenital position without setae; and formula of genital setae 6:1. However, this new species can be easily distinguished by: (1) lateral carinae of prodorsum absent (versus present in M. ( M.) frogneri ); (2) rostral setae much thinner than interlamellar setae (versus similar in shape as interlamellar setae); (3) setae c 3 much thinner than other “notogastral” setae (versus similar in shape); (4) setae c 1– c 3 form almost equally spaced row (versus setae c 3 closer to anterior border).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Mesoplophora (Mesoplophora) heterotricha sp. nov.: A, lateral view of body (legs removed); B, prodorsum, dorsal view; C, ventral region. Scale bars = 100 µm.